Let It Be

US Release: May 8, 1970 (Box Set) ● Apple Records PXS 1

UK & US Release: November 6, 1970 (Standard Release)

US Apple AR 34001

UK Apple PCS 7096

Produced by: Phil Spector

with George Martin

Side One

Two of Us
Dig a Pony
Across the Universe
I Me Mine
Dig It
Let It Be
Maggie Mae

Despite the Beatles distaste for the over-produced orchestral quality of the album, the song selection is still steller - outside of the mish-mash of thrown-together pastiches of unfinished works - namely, "Dig It" and "Maggie Mae" and the cold ending of "Get Back", this album still had its memorable moments. Some underrated cuts are being hailed recently as classics, namely; "I Dig A Pony", "Two Of Us" and "I've Got A Feeling".

Of course, the album isn't without its criticism, mostly the chatter between songs giving the album a sloppy production feel and the horribly rough edits for the guitar solo in "Let It Be".

But the biggest criticism is Phil Spector's overuse for the final master of "The Long And Winding Road". Despite the single hitting #1 in the U.S., the song was inspiration for Capitol to remix the entire album in 2003 in the form of Let It Be...Naked.

However, Let It Be hit #1 in most countries and sold well into the millions. And in the U.K. it was originally released as a box set, complete with a booklet of photos that accompanied the record.

Side Two

I've Got a Feeling
One After 909
The Long and Winding Road
For You Blue
Get Back

A film was made to document the sessions, but proved to be distateful to many fans (back then) and most involved in the Beatles circle. However now, the film is highly sought after and posted in its VHS tape form. Many DVD bootlegs exist using those old VHS masters, but is promised to never be officially released on DVD as long as Paul McCartney or Yoko Ono is alive. This is mostly due to the tension between all four band members, the quitting of George Harrison during the sessions, and the semi-disastrous rooftop concert atop of the Savelle Row building in London. But, of course, devoted Beatle fans appreciated the film and rooftop concert. The Let It Be movie is one of the most request Beatle artifacts ever.

Let It Be... Naked

UK Release: November 17, 2003

Apple 595 4380 (Box LP) ● Apple 595 7132 (CD)

US Release: November 18, 2003

Capitol CDP-5-95713-2

CD ONE

Get Back
Dig a Pony
For You Blue
The Long and Winding Road
Two of Us
I've Got a Feeling
One After 909
Don't Let Me Down
I Me Mine
Across the Universe
Let It Be

CD TWO: Bonus Disc

Fly On The Wall:

Sun King | Don't Let Me Down

One After 909 | Because I Know You Love Me So Don't Pass Me By | Taking a Trip to Carolina

Maggie Mae | Fancy My Chances with You | Can You Dig It? | Get Back

To some, this 2003 CD was unnecesary, as an official Beatles album release, but in other circles this was a much needed release, as it stripped clear all of Phil Spector's over-produced final mixes on the original 1970 release. In most ways, this album helps to show The Beatles true talents as songwriters and performers without all of the fluff, and breathing new life in those original 1970 tracks. But in the end, most fans simply appreciated the orginality of the 1970 Let It Be album and overall prefer it not be tampered with.

But some notable moments that are appreciated are the sound quality mixes of such tracks as, "Across The Universe" and "The Long And Winding Road", among others - depending on who you talk to. I personally was impressed with the remaster of my favorite tracks, "One After 909" and "I Me Mine" but found a new appreciation for "I've Got A Feeling" and "I Dig A Pony" more through this release over the original album.

Naked only hit #1 in Mexico and #2 in Japan. Outside of that the album didn't fare much better, hitting #5 in the U.S. and #7 in the U.K. The album did hit Top Ten in many countries and sold upward of 1.2 million copies in the U.S. and about 500,000 in Japan (no record of its U.K. sales are available as of now).

Some may argue that Let It Be... Naked might be the closest idea to how Get Back was supposed to have sounded, minus a few cuts that would have taken away from the idea of stripping down the already famous 1970 Let It Be album.

One notable inclusion of the proposed Get Back album is the song, "Teddy Boy", which can be found on the 1996 CD, Anthology 3, but is most notable as a Paul McCartney track recorded for his debut solo album, McCartney in 1970.

A great article was written for the website, The Source, which goes deeper into the history and specifics of Get Back . Check it out HERE.

Get Back

This album remains unreleased. Cover is based on bootleg release or fan made.

Get Back was a proposed album by Apple Records and to be produced by Glyn Johns. The album's track listing had gone through a couple variations, remaining relately the same in most proposals but with different order and different mixes. But primarily it was a proposal that ended up being the Let It Be album, finally produced by famed producer, Phil Spector.

With a quick internet search, original track listings can be found and many of those mixes are available as bootlegs.

Other than Glyn Johns set as producer, John Barrett was also slated to produce the album at one time. His concept for the production was set to include these tracks:

SIDE ONE

One After 909
Rocker
Save The Last Dance
Don't Let Me Down
Dig A Pony
I've Got A Feeling
Get Back

The Glyn Johns version didn't stray far from that concept. And as you can see, the Phil Spector version also came close to this line-up of songs. One main exception would have been the full length cut of "Maggie Mae" and quite possibly the full length version of "Dig It", which has seen plenty of coverage on bootlegs and on the internet.

SIDE TWO

For You Blue
Teddy Boy
Two Of Us
Maggie May
Dig It
Let It Be
The Long And Winding Road
Get Back (Reprise)